Poorly-built Paktia hospital building damages

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): A newly built 50-bed hospital in Zurmat district of southeastern Paktia province has partially damaged due to its poor construction.

The hospital, a 230 million afghanis project, was inaugurated by former Paktia governor, Zalmai Wesa, in January this year.

Residents of the district say poor quality construction materials had been used in the hospital’s construction and asked officials to fine the contracted company.

Sherullah Murad, a resident of Zurmat district, said the hospital was an important project inaugurated in the district after many years.

He asked provincial officials to investigate the issue and take necessary steps regarding the repair of the damaged parts of the facility.

“It was an important development in this unstable district, you can say a big kindness of the government, but unfortunately the project fell prey to corruption.”

He said it would have been better if the building had not been constructed because the structure was likely to collapse in two months or so.

Abdullah, a resident of the Zurmat district center, also said ‘empty blocks’ were used in the hospital construction and only its exterior looked good.

“The construction company has deceived the people, a huge amount of many was spent on this project but in vain, if officials are honest, they should arrest the company owner and interrogate him,” he said.

A number of other residents of the district also held similar views about the hospital building.

Paktia public health director, Dr. Walayat Khan Ahmadzai, told Pajhwok Afghan News that he had visited the hospital building and a list of the damaged parts of the building had been shared with the construction company for repair works.

Bahayee Jan Yar, head of the private sector in Paktia, confirmed problems in the hospital building but said that the problems were not serious and the company would repair them.

“Yes the building has problems, water of its bathrooms leaks through the walls, the tiles are cracked and the water reservoirs has also the leakage problem, but the building has not been formally submitted by the contractor and the damaged parts would be repaired,” he said.

Haji Noor Mangal, owner of the company that built the hospital building, said the building had some minor problems which were under repair process.

When asked how the damages occurred, he said: “There was a little technical problem in the construction process but we are solving it.”